Submarine Commander

The game opens displaying the control console, whose square middle section shows a map of the Mediterranean with your current location displayed as a white cross and the locations of enemy ships as black dots. Various status details are shown in the two rectangular areas on either side of the map. Forward movement is controlled by the number keys, 1 for slow and 9 for maximum. On the surface the submarine moves more rapidly and recharges its batteries and air supply.

The joystick provides directional control through the rudders and dive planes. This is a slow process, turning the ship around in a 360-degree circle takes considerable time even at full speed.

Electronic Fun gave it a rare 4 out of 4 rating, noting that in spite of the complexity the game was still very fun, and that "Whenever you hit an enemy ship, you want to jump up and cheer."

Hosea Battles reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "This game will appeal to those who like arcade graphics and sounds, but enjoy a sense of wargaming."

A 1993 Computer Gaming World survey of wargames gave Submarine Commander one star out of five, describing it as "innovative in its time, but now offers next to nothing for the simulation gamer".

A 2009 review noted that "Submarine Commander has brought to the video gaming industry what Eastern Front 1941 done; that is making the computer to be separate medium to those traditional board games. Yet Submarine Commander added an extra flavour of being immersed in 3D which is a dramatic step in contrast to those many, many side-scrolling shoot-em up games." Another reviewer noted it is "one of the most complex games produced for the VIC-20."